A favorite from The Wire seems ready to ascend to new heights with a new role. Also today: the (once-again) return of Jason Patric, the bold ideas of Randy Jackson, and the baby movie to end all baby movies.

So OK, a few weeks ago tragically handsome British actor Idris Elba Tweeted about going on some sort of huge, career-changing audition and everyone, for some reason, assumed he was talking about Quentin Tarantino's new movie Django Unchained. But now it seems that he wasn't! He was likely talking about perennially thwarted director Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim, a big monster movie that was once to star Tom Cruise. But now it seems that Idris Elba has landed the Tom Cruise role! So that is pretty big for him. No longer will he have to stand on the sidelines as Beyonce throws Ali Larter down staircases or be in movies called The Losers. No, Idris Elba could be poised on the brink of honest to goodness A-level Stardom right here. And, sincerely, it couldn't happen to a more deserving person. Stringer Bell forever! Meanwhile, it seems that Jamie Foxx will take the Django Unchained role and Tom Cruise will continue to make everyone cry and consider blinding themselves and then go to bed sad and scared. [Deadline]

Lionsgate, which produces AMC's hit melancholy machine Mad Men, has finally reached a deal with that show's star, Jon Hamm, for the next three seasons. By the end of the contract, Hamm will be paid the hammsome (deal with it) sum of $250,000 per episode. So that's like millions of dollars! Specifically, like $3 million for one season. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, because salary is all relative or whatever, but man that is just a lot of money. I can't remember the last time I made $250,000 for a week and a half of work. It was a long time ago, that's for sure. Because I don't remember it. Probably when I was a baby. I was a popular baby. [NYT]

Here's a terrifically bad/sad idea. American Idol's resident nonsense-spewing koopa king Randy Jackson is shopping a talk show around town. Ha, really, Randy? I don't know, dawg. For me, for you, that idea is a little pitchy. (Good Idol jokes, guys.) A "source" of some sort says that Jackson "wants to talk about things that will be hip next." Oh hip next. Not hip now. "On my show we will not be talking about iPads. No. We will be talking about computer inserts that are grafted onto people's ulnae." Makes sense. The source added: "He thinks he has his finger on the pulse." Hah, whoa, "he thinks." That was way harsh, source. As sources go, you are a very backhanded complimenting kind of source. Don't say anything about me, source! Anyway, Randy Jackson's talk show will be terrible if it ever happens, which it will not. [THR]

Jason Patric, the actor who was big in the 1980s but then sorta went a little off the reservation in Rush and sat crouched in a ditch while pooping and crying (basically) in Speed 2: Cruise Control, is getting his umpteenth shot at stardom. Well, small screen stardom. He's just been cast in the FX pilot Powers, in which he'll play a detective who investigates crimes done by/to people with superpowers. So it's basically Law & Order: Special Mutants Unit. "In the criminal justice system, supermutant-based offenses are considered especially Jason Patric." Cross making your opening credits off the to-do list, Powers producers. I've just done it for you. [EW]

Hollywood has decided, in its infinite wisdom, to make a movie based on What to Expect When You're Expecting, the wildly popular pregnancy/baby-birthing book. It's going to be a rambling ensemble piece reminiscent of Robert Altman's best work hideous Hollywood fucktaculars He's Just Not That Into You and Valentine's Day (and the upcoming New Year's Eve). Jennifer Lopez has landed a role in the film, as have Cameron Diaz and Isla Fisher. Glee's resident noodle-head Matthew Morrison and SNL workhorse Kristen Wiig were at one time cast in the movie, but it seems they've dropped out due to their demanding TV schedules. And rumors that Ed Helms has been cast are untrue, it seems. So, that's that. No matter who they cast this will likely be awful, because I mean, how could it not be awful? Sorry to be all Nancy Negative, but it has to be awful, right? At least there will be cute babies at the end! And it's just been announced that, in a career redefining role, Idris Elba will be playing one of those babies. [Vulture]